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5/20/2016

On WMAL's Mornings on the Mall to talk about the Federal Judge striking down DC's Concealed Handgun Rules

CPRC's Dr. John Lott was interviewed on WMAL with Brian Wilson and Larry O'Connor about a federal judge's decision to strike down DC's very restrictive concealed handgun law as too restrictive. A copy of the decision is available here.

On WMAL about Federal Judge's decision to Strike Down DC's concealed handgun law

CPRC's Dr. John Lott was interviewed for a brief news segment about a federal judge's decision to strike down DC's very restrictive concealed handgun law as too restrictive. A copy of the decision is available here. The first quote here was edited to leave out Lott's reference to poor blacks in urban areas being the most likely victims of violent crime. The quote contains Lott's concern that those who are most likely to be victims of violent crimes are the ones who are being prevented from being able to protect themselves, but the middle of the quote was edited out (possibly for time considerations).

On the other hand, Mrs. Clinton avoided speaking about gun control in rural white regions of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, whose blue-collar voters will be desperately fought for by any Democratic nominee against Mr. Trump. A disparaging comment by Mr. Obama in 2008, who said that these voters cling to guns and religion, did much damage.

5/19/2016

Four recent concealed carry defensive gun use cases over a two day period

Permit holder stops man from using his car as a battering ram in road rage incident

WPTV Channel 5 in West Palm Beach, Tuesday, May 10, 2016

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Port St. Lucie police said a 27-year-old man faces multiple charges in connection with a hit-and-run crash and road rage incident Tuesday.
At about 5:30 a.m., officers responded to the intersection of SE Lennard Rd. and SE Avalon Rd. in connection with the wreck.
The victim told police he was at his girlfriend’s house around 4 a.m. The couple was awakened by the woman’s ex-boyfriend, Claudens R. Germain, who was knocking at the door.
A short time later, the victim said he left his girlfriend’s house and was driving northbound on SE Lennard Road. He then noticed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed behind him.
He said the vehicle cut him off and then stopped in front of him. The victim said he armed himself with a handgun, which police said he has a concealed weapons permit to legally carry.

Mentally ill man who was threatening others is shot when he lunges at permit holder

KHOU Channel 11 in Houston, Wednesday, May 11, 2016

HOUSTON - Gunfire rang out at an office building near NRG Stadium Wednesday.
A man who apparently had mental health issues was killed after witnesses said he became violent, HPD officers said.
No one else was injured.
It happened on the fifth floor of the Community Health Choice building at 2636 South Loop.
Police say the dead man had an appointment with a counselor at a center for people with mental disabilities. The staff decided to reschedule because he said he wasn't feeling well. The man left and came back within half an hour and had a "mental episode," according to police. . . .
The staff, mostly women, felt threatened so they locked the doors. That's when the man went next door to a tax consulting business. The owner of the business fired one shot at the man and killed him, police said. The man's attorney said the victim lunged at his client and he felt threatened. . . .

Texas becomes the Third State with over a million Concealed Handgun Permit Holders, with 5.3% of adult population

Texas is now the third state that has more than a million active concealed handgun permit holders. As of April 30th they had 1,017,618 permit holders, about 5.3% of the adult population. The map above shows the percent of the population with concealed handgun permits and for five counties the percent of the adult population with permits.
As of April 30th, Florida had 1,567,359 valid permits -- 10.4% of the adult population.
As of January 20, 2016, Pennsylvania had 1,112,172 permits-- 11.5% of the adult population.
Just these three states alone have 3,697,149.